MOSCOW, November 13 (RAPSI) – Russian businessman Telman Ismailov has been put on the international wanted list as part of a murder case, according to the spokesperson of Moscow's Basmanny District Court Yunona Tsareva.

Earlier, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow issued an arrest warrant for Ismailov in absentia. Ismailov’s lawyer Marina Rusakova told RAPSI on Saturday that the ruling had been appealed. The Moscow City Court will consider the appeal on November 15, the attorney added.

The case against Ismailov is reportedly connected with the murder of businessman Vladimir Savkin and founder of Lublino-Motors auto service centre Yury Brylev in May 2016. The tycoon’s brother Rafik Ismailov and one more man Mekhman Kerimov were allegedly involved in the double homicide. Kerimov has pleaded guilty.

The businessman could face life imprisonment if convicted.

Telman Ismailov, who controls AST Group, is one of Russia’s richest men. In 2009, he clashed with law enforcement authorities over the Cherkizovsky outdoor market, which evolved from a mere flea market into an industrial-scale distribution hub for Chinese imports during the oil boom. The market was closed after sanitary authorities found major violations.

In March, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Ismailov bankrupt. Later, the Tenth Commercial Court of Appeals upheld this ruling.